Scriptural rewards for fearing the Lord:

• Strength to turn away from evil

  “By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.” (Proverbs 16:6).

• Knowledge

  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7).

• Wisdom

  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

• Prolonged life

  “The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened” (Proverbs 10:27).

• A fountain of life

  “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death” (Proverbs 14:27).

• The basis for contentment

  “Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
      than great treasure and trouble with it.” (Proverbs 15:16).

• The instruction of wisdom

  “The fear of the Lord is the lesson of wisdom: and humility goeth before honor.” (Proverbs 15:33).

• Healing and refreshment

  “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.” (Proverbs 3:7–8).

• Worship

  “But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple” (Psalm 5:7).

• God’s faithful provision

  “O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him” (Psalm 34:9). “He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant” (Psalm 111:5).

• Access to God’s salvation

  “Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land” (Psalm 85:9).

• Strong confidence and refuge

  “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have hope and a place of refuge” (Proverbs 14:26).

• A satisfying life

  “The fear of the Lord is unto life: and he shall abide satisfied without being visited with evil.” (Proverbs 19:23).

• The secrets of the Lord

  “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant” (Psalm 25:14).

• Experiences of God’s goodness

  “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!” (Psalm 31:19).

• God’s watchful care and provision

  “Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; to deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine” (Psalm 33:18–19).

• Deliverance from trouble

  “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them” (Psalm 34:7).

• God’s mercy

  “For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him” (Psalm 103:11).

• The Lord’s fatherly pity

  “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him” (Psalm 103:13).

• Bringing pleasure to God

  “The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy” (Psalm 147:11).

• Becoming God’s special treasure

  “Then they that feared the Lord spoke every one with his neighbour often: and the Lord gave ear, and heard it: and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that fear the Lord, and think on his name. And they shall be my treasured possession, saith the Lord of hosts, in the day that I do judgment...” (Malachi 3:16–17).

• To be taught the way of the Lord

  “What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose” (Psalm 25:12).

• The application of sanctification

  “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and of the spirit, bringing sanctification to completion” (II Corinthians 7:1).

• Scriptural submission to one another

  “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God” (Ephesians 5:21).

• The fulfillment of desires

  “He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them” (Psalm 145:19).

In light of such abundant promises, we should earnestly seek to develop the fear of the Lord. We would be wise to pray along with the psalmist David, “Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name” (Psalm 86:11).